Head-Low Head-High

There are very few situations in obstetrics in which the patient has to be given a head-low position, and even fewer in which a head-high position is required. Owing to the repair-renovation of the building and having had to put all patients in a very crowded ward, we had some curious situations. One day we found a patient in head-low position on one cot. She was under care of another doctor, and I would not comment on the need for giving her that position. There was a patient of mine on the same cot. In order to accommodate themselves better, the patients were lying down with the heads in opposite directions. So the feet of one patient were next to the head of the other patient. As a result my patient was in a head-high position. "Are you comfortable in this position" my Associate Professor asked her. The patient smiled weakly in response. She was not at all comfortable, having unwashed feet of the other patient next to her nose, and with the head high and feet low. "Shift our patient to the antenatal ward" I advised. I don't know if the nurses put another patient in our patient's place, again in head-high position.